This company solicited business from my community Dec 8, 2005 in Penticton BC and again on Dec. 20, 2005, in Kelowna BC Canada.
Following an intriguing 3 hour presentation in Penticton, I attended an intensive, overwhelming full day educational workshop in Kelowna BC, where many participants signed up for the irresistable, highly enthusiastic, highly motivational, no-brainer, be in business tomorrow scam.
No one could not leave that workshop feeling utterly overwhelmed and exhausted with the fast pace, fast talking flood of information that lead one to believe they could easily tap into a lucrative business. There were no breaks, the profesional presentation of internet educational information was non-stop, even through the serving of lunch. There were no bathroom or toilet breaks. The volume and speed of information was likened to someone turning a fire hose on you.
At the end of the day, under duress, I signed up for 6 e-commerce web sites, complete with shopping carts and training tutorials that would guide one through the steps to set up e-commerce store fronts.
Their final words to those of us who signed up were to go home, take a good few days rest, and once refreshed, the first two things to do: read the Getting Started packet and look at the DVD. Never did anyone tell me to review the licensing agreements and the accompanying documents. I understood these were implemented a long way down the road, once you had done your research, found you market, your supplier, and were ready to build your storefront. As a matter of fact I just read them on Jan 23,and was shocked to see that each store front has an annual maintenance fee of $2500.00 in addition to the monthly hosting fee of $24.95. They had disclosed this fee at the presentation. We had been told, under this special offer, being offered, today only, the maintenance fees were being waived.
Never was it discussed or revealed that the product was non-refundable, non-cancellabe. Never did anyone bring our attention to the clause that says it was refundable only for 3 days from the time of signing on. (Given the documented record of this company, it appears they do not honor the 3 day clause anyway.)
With the passing of Christmas and New Years, I started to seriously look at all of the information. That is when I happened upon the 3 day clause. Reading about the arbitration made me a little uncomfortable but I shunned the "red flag" that went up ...nothing I could do about it now, I was a good 12 days passed the time of signing, which would mean, 9 days late for the 3-day clause, given Christmas and holidays factured into that time. All I could do was to stay posivitive and dig into their data bases and figure out what it was I was going to do with my e-commerce store fronts.
Well a whole lot of research later, a few more red flags, Jan 23, 10:30 p.m., I decided to check the BBB...having just learned about the importance of this from suppliers I was reasearching, and I was horrified, I could not even finish reading the report, I felt so sick.
I immediately phoned my credit card to stop payment, a little late but I am expecting a dispute letter from them any day now and hopefully will win the dispute.
At the credit cards direction, I sent the company a letter with the subject title: "Wanting to Return my Licenses" and the letter was returned to me via an auto responder stating I was a spammer and had been added to their Spammers List. I was stunned and terrified, what kind of a company is this? They won't even accept my letter! I immediately phoned the credit card company again and they said then they would send out a letter of dispute.
I then went to the RCMP, my binders, my newly purchased lap top in hand, to have them investigated for fraudulent practises. The RCMP did a check on thier computers and returned with a few print offs, this web site being one of them, and said unfortunatley this company, as bad as their reputation is, had not done anything criminal.
After several attempts, my letter "Wanting to Return my License" was finally delivered. The live online chat services both proved to be unavailable or unable to deliver a service. Only at my persistence and "due diligence" did my mail finally get delivered.
In my letter to the company I informed them that I was dissatisfied with the product, that I was disillusioned with their company. That they had lost all credibility with me and that I insist on a RA# and a full refund of my $7,065.72 It is a no-brainer, who could do business with the reputation they have as presented in the Orem, Utah Better Business Bureau Report?
Their return letter to me dated Jan 25, 2006 stated: "the purchase you made was done so on a non-refundable, non-cancelable basis. This is stated several times in normal and large sized print on your order form, and again throughout all of your purchase paperwork." I have requested copies of this paperwork as I cannot find and have not seen this. To date they have not forwarded the information. They did send a return e-mail saying: "below is the list of all your ommunciations with Help, including your questions and answers to them." That is their answer to my request for copies of the documentation? Again, proof that they are incapable of rendering a service. A service that comes with a $7000.00+ price tag!
I feel the need to inform others about the presence of this company doing business in My Country, My Province, My Penticton. I have sent letters to the BC Attorney Generals Office, the BC Securities Commission, the BC Business Practises and Consumer Protection Authority, the Vancouver Better Business Bureau that serves the BC mainland, the City of Penticton, the Penticton Chamber of Commerce, the City of Kelowna, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and finally the luxurious hotels/resorts that host these characters: The Penticton Lakeside Resort and The Kelowna Grand Okanagan Resort.
This company has such a documented history of misrepresentation and deceitful dealings. Why are they allowed into our communities? Why are we allowing them to solicit valuable dollars from our communities?
I have sent all of the above named agencies an e-mail from this web site, in particular the page submitted Dec. 29/05 from Heather in GTA, Ontario, looking for other Canadians for a nationwide lawsuit. I have made all agencies aware that there are 342 entries on ripoff.com and I have sent all agencies a copy of the Better Business Bureau Report from Orem, Utah. Surely something needs to be done.
I have had a response from the Vancouver BBB recommending I file my complaint with the Orem, Utah BBB. I will do this.
I have had a response from the BC Securities, based on the information I provided, they cannot conclude that a violation of the Securities Act has taken place. (not sure, maybe I need to re-visit what I provided them with, what could I provide that would make them more interested?) They state "your investment does not appear to be in a security under our jurisdiction." (Any feedback or direction from others will be appreciated.) They have referred me to the Business Practises and Consume Protection Authority.
It is important to understand that in contacting these agencies I am not looking for their involvement in my personal situation with StoresOnline, but on a more broader perspective of why is this company allowed to be doing business in our country, our provinces, our communities? Surely there are laws or licensing terms that can regulate their presence or make business so difficult for them that they cease and desist.
I have had a response from the Businsess Practises and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA). They are unable to intervene or assist as this is out of their jurisdiction. This is a business -to-business dispute not a business-to-consumer dispute. Similarly, as per the BBB report from Orem, Utah, the consumer protection offices in the US have also concluded that the transaction that has taken place is one of a contract between a seller and an individual for the purposes of entering into busiess and is therefore a business-to-business transaction.
However, the BPCPA has also stated they are aware of the concerns regarding this company and have been in communication with law enforcments offices locally and nationally and have been advised to refer such complaints regarding Storesonline to the Competiton Bureau. I will follow up with them.
I will keep you posted as I learn more.
Nancy
Penticton, British Columbia
Why file a report here? Ripoff Report is a permanent record! Other complaint sites copy our content then remove reports for money.
